Time is running out for you to safely order new retro handhelds, accessories, or other devices from retailers based in China. With that in mind, we figured it would be helpful to know what each retailer and company has planned for future purchases.
Updates
- UPDATE – 4/29/25 (8:45 PM): 8Bitdo provides statement.
- UPDATE – 4/29/25 (10:40 AM): Updated to add Evercade announcement.
- UPDATE – 4/28/25 (9:30 PM): Updated to reflect changes to AYANEO’s shipping policies.
- UPDATE – 4/25/25 (6:15 PM): Updated to reflect changes to Powkiddy’s shipping.
- UPDATE – 4/25/25 (9:30 AM): This has been updated to include new policies from Retroid, which include changes to 4PX and DHL.
- UPDATE – 4/22/25 (11:45 AM): This has been updated to include new shipping policies from AYN and AYANEO.
As a result, we’ve rounded up all of the information that we can find in order to help you make sense of everything that’s going on. Additionally, we’ll be sure to update this post whenever new information is made available.
What to Expect
At the end of the day, all of this means that you should expect to see higher prices, regardless of what you end up paying from the retailer or OEM. It also means that we’re likely to see higher prices from sites like GoGameGeek, LITNXT, and even Amazon resellers.
Tariff Changes Timeline
- April 2, 2025: 10% universal tariff on all imports.
- April 9, 2025: Modified Reciprocal Tariff Rates Signed
- May 2, 2025: Reciprocal Tariffs for five countries
- China: 145%
- Vietnam: 46%
- Taiwan: 32%
- South Korea: 25%
- European Union: 20%
- May 2, 2025: New tariff structure for sub-$800 shipments from China, Hong Kong, and Macau.
- Ad Valorem Rate of Duty Increase from 90% to 120%.
- May 2 – June 1: Per Postal Item Increase from $75 to $100.
- June 1, 2025: Per Postal Item fee increases from $150 to $200.
Retailers
AliExpressAmazon (Resellers)KeepRetroGoGameGeekLITNXTMechDIYSheinTemuToRetro
- Mandate:
- No official statement.
- Additional Notes:
- N/A
- Mandate:
- No official statement.
- Additional Notes:
- N/A
- Mandate:
- No official statement.
- Additional Notes:
- Shipping Policy
- Ship via UBI Post. Will take 7-15 business days.
- Shipping Policy
- Mandate:
- No official statement.
- Additional Notes:
- Shipping Policy:
- 1-2 days for handling. 5-15 days transmit time for most countries.
- Shipping Policy:
- Mandate:
- No official statement.
- Additional Notes:
- Mandate:
- “Price increase for US shoppers on “April 21.”
- Additional Notes:
- Shipping Policy
- Processing: 2-5 days
- Express Shipping: 7-14 business days
- Standard Shipping: 14-30 days
- Shipping Policy
- Mandate:
- “We will be making price adjustments starting April 25, 2025.”
- Additional Notes
- N/A
- Mandate:
- “We will be making price adjustments starting April 25, 2025.”
- Additional Notes
- N/A
- Mandate:
- No official statement.
- Additional Notes
- “Orders shipped with an express mail service usually have a higher probability of being stopped by Customs officers and of incurring in higher import duties.”
OEMs
8BitdoAnbernicAYANEOAYNNintendoOneXPlayerPowkiddyRetroidEvercade
- Notice:
- “Due to U.S. tariffs, only products from our U.S. warehouse are available for shipping to the United States. China warehouse shipping is temporarily paused.”
- Mandate
- All orders from China to the U.S. are suspended.
- Additional Notes
- Recommended to select U.S. warehouse on the device page.
- Mandate
- No official statement.
- Additional Notes
- “Final payment does not include taxes and duty fees. If you want to know how much customs will charge you or why there is a delay in processing your order through customs, you will need to call the customs office in your country.”
- AYANEO 3 Shipping Update:
- “Given recent changes to U.S. import tariff policies, we will prioritize U.S. orders within the same batch to help reduce the potential customs burden for our U.S. backers.”
- AYANEO Pocket ACE Indiegogo FAQ:
- No, the price of the final payment for AYANEO products does not include Import tariffs. We advise our backers to be aware of their local country’s tariff policy before making a purchase. In case of a return due to customs duties, AYANEO will not refund the shipping costs. Therefore, we recommend that backers carefully consider all potential costs associated with their purchase before making a final decision.
- Mandate
- “The current plan is to ship to 25th, then pause for a week, and try to choose a new channel for shipping after May 5th.”
- Additional Notes
- “A tax of 21%~23% will be requested in EU countries; the parcel over USD$800 will need to pay in the US.”
- Mandate
- Switch 2 launch price remains the same. ($449.99 / $499.99)
- Additional Notes
- Switch 2 accessories will see “price adjustments.”
- Mandate
- No official statement.
- Additional Notes
- Purchases < $800: DHL/UPS/USPS
- Purchases > $799: 4PX/epacket
- Shipping Update
- Due to changes in the US tariff policy, we will suspend all orders shipped from China to the US starting today. We strongly recommend that you patiently wait for the logistics clearance plan. If you have encountered any customs fees during this transition period, please feel free to contact us – we will work with you to find a suitable solution.
- Additional Notes
- Only uses 4PX for shipping.
- Official Statement
- 4PX has paused US shipments, starting 4/23/25. No update on when they will resume.
- DHL has paused US shipments, starting 4/25/25. They have informed us that they will resume on 4/27/25.
- We have also secured a new shipping vendor, to better serve our U.S. customers. There will be a trial period from 4/25/25 – 5/15/25.
- It’s important to note that product prices WILL NOT INCREASE during this time. We also elected to pay the US tariff fees, on behalf of the customer.
- Shipping costs however, will increase by about $20 on 4/27/25. Again, US orders only.
- Additional Notes
- “We offer the 4PX shipping channel and DHL to ship our products and the 4px shipping time will be about 15-60 days. If you need to receive the goods fast please choose the DHL shipping channel.”
- Official Statement
- We have recently signed a new distribution deal for the US and Canada and we hope, upon resolution of the current tariff situation, that we can improve Evercade availability in the US going forward.
Shippers/Freight
4PXDHLFedexUPS
- Mandate
- No official statement
- Additional Notes:
- According to Retroid, 4PX has paused US shipments “starting 4/23/25.”
- Mandate
- “Effective April 5, 2025, all shipments to the U.S. with a declared customs value over USD 800 require formal entry processing.”
- According to Retroid, DHL is temporarily pausing US shipments from 4/25 until 4/27. Shipping will resume on 4/27/25.
- Mandate
- No official statement
- Mandate
- No official statement
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Hopefully this tariff stuff doesn’t last too long so we can all go back to enjoying our hobby.
Time to play your games and enjoy what you have. Could be like this for the next 4 years at minimum.
Lol. Unless the entirety of the govt pulls its head out of its collective ass we’re fucked. All we can do now is lose.
More like China needs to stop being greedy and stop taking advantage of other countries. These things are made by pennies on a dollar in a Chinese factory by non unionized workers
Greed is everywhere… Most in this administration is banking on these Tariffs via stock market. Sadly us voters are being played an sometimes pesterd
Nobody’s banking on anything from the stock market. It’s been highly volatile due to uncertainty caused by the tariffs. What the Trump administration is actually “banking on” is that the tariffs force China to the negotiating table so that we get a more favorable trade deal for the United States. We can debate on whether this strategy will be successful, but it’s nonsensical to say the Trump administration is making money on this in the stock market right now.
Indeed – This administration is crushing so many businesses and consumers livelihoods & lives.
Didn’t the sub-$800 shipments from China get significantly increased? Or did they get rolled back down an I missed it?
Anyone who complains is a virgin
Get a life losers. You don’t need video games for daily living. Get a job and get out of your parents basement
Dude I have a job and I live on my own maybe it’s you that needs to do that
trump voter is BIG MAD
Why are you even here?
Too bad this is also affecting things people do need for daily living but as this is a handheld website that’s what they’re covering. Shocker. Why do you red hats insist on being so f***ing stupid?
Where tf do you think you are? You seem lost. Can we call your parents to bring you home?
Considering you’re here, which means what you just said also applies to you, I’m guessing you’re just casting some rage bait. 😉
I can respect a good troll. 😀
this moron literally links to some shock site (don’t repeat my mistake and click on his username)
Most people work and most work hard so perhaps you’re thinking of yourself or someone specific. People have the right to purchase and do what they wish to do in America. Dramatic Force changes are never a good thing what this administration is doing.